WAHIP Forum
The Washington Artists Health Insurance Project Forum was held July 18, 2005 at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle. The nearly 70 Forum invited participants represented a dynamic cross section of expertise in health policy, insurance, health care and artists’ services with twenty percent of participants coming from beyond Washington State. WAHIP’s recent research on national health coverage strategies and the Washington State artist population was examined and augmented by presentations on innovative efforts around the country. This served as a foundation for working sessions exploring possible strategies for health coverage efforts to benefit artists in Washington State. The Forum also considered how artists may serve as a proxy group for developing or furthering insurance/health care models that can be of benefit to all individuals who are outside traditional employer-based health coverage.

Forum Recommendations
Four areas have been defined as most promising for WAHIP’s efforts over the coming years based on a review of the Forum proceedings, the written comments and responses from participants, debrief discussions, and the assessment of the WAHIP Advisory Group. These recommendations synthesize the most important and likely directions to achieve the goals of WAHIP. The four WAHIP focus areas are:

Focus 1. Education and Information
There is consensus on the need for enhanced education and information efforts for artists regarding health coverage. This includes the need for information on health insurance options and preventive care as well as accurate information and training on the responsibilities and costs associated with health insurance coverage for individuals outside of traditional employer-sponsored plans.

Focus 2. Artists Health Coverage Plan: Implement a Model Project
A key goal of WAHIP is to provide a coverage option for artists within the next 24 to 36 months. Based on the outcomes of the Forum a preliminary outline for a model project is proposed to be developed and implemented in the Puget Sound area where there is the highest concentration of Washington artists and community clinics. The model project would create a package of components: preventive and primary care through designated providers or clinics combined with a high deductible catastrophic insurance plan. Additional components might include incentives for participation in health education programs or health maintenance behaviors, as well as eligibility for subsidies for a high deductible health plan (HDHP) insurance product or co-pays/out-of-pocket expenses based on income. Incentives for commitment to a three year cycle of participation and for younger artists would also be considered.

Focus 3. Coalition Building and Advocacy
Advocacy efforts must be explored as part of a larger coalition representing constituencies to be served by expanded public or public/private programs. Washington State’s Basic Health plan has provided affordable insurance to many low income artists and others for over 10 years. Options for consideration include working with other constituencies to increase the capacity of Basic Health or other programs to serve more low income individuals and families, including eligible artists. Connections to other state and national advocacy efforts should be evaluated for potential collaboration.

Focus 4. New Subsidy and Funding Streams
All approaches to health coverage must grapple with the issue of affordability. Disparities in income will always affect accessibility. Although the specific uses of dollars raised to assist artists with health coverage requires additional definition, the need is clear and is only likely to grow. Such funds could be used in a variety of ways: to subsidize insurance costs including the state’s high-risk pool (Washington State Health Insurance Pool known as WSHIP); to help with out-of- pocket expense; to assist in catastrophic circumstances; to support providers or clinics who work with artists; etc. Currently there are numerous fundraising benefit concerts and other events that, while helping an individual in need, do not build a larger framework of assistance and change. There is a need to channel the variety of fundraising efforts into a more coherent and effective tool to support artists’ health care needs.

Next steps in Washington State
The initial step will be the formation of a task force in each focus area and the identification of one or more organizations as leaders in that focus area’s efforts. The scope, scale and timing of both short term and long term strategies in each focus area will be determined by that task force and based on available resources. For details and recommended strategies in each focus area please see “Recommendations and Next Steps” in the Forum Summary Report (PDF* 219KB) 

Beyond Washington State
WAHIP’s research and methodology provides information that is useful to those tackling health issues for artists in other states or communities. A picture of a diverse occupational group of vocational artists has emerged and we are now able to see how their characteristics link them to other independent or non-employer covered workers in the area of health coverage. The research undertaken for WAHIP contains information and replicable processes that can be applied elsewhere. WAHIP is working with efforts in other states to share this information and to build stronger networks of shared knowledge.

WAHIP Survey Completed
The WAHIP survey was completed in Spring 2005 and provides essential data on the Washington State artist population and their health care and insurance access and needs. Working with the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC) at Washington State University, a statistically viable sample of over 6,000 names was randomly selected from over 30,000 gathered through over 40 organizations throughout the state. The data analysis is based on the strong response from over 400 full and part-time artists and arts workers in every discipline. The survey instrument and methodology are suitable for replication in other states or communities, and the findings provide insight into artists and health issues nationally. The survey has a margin of error of plus/minus 3%. Some of the key findings include:

• There are more than 22,000 vocational artists in Washington State.
  
  
• 46% are self-employed compared to 10.5% of the general workforce.
  
  
• Artists are highly educated—83% have a BA or higher degree.
  
  
• The median income for artists in the state is about $50,000.
  
  
• While 15% of artists have no insurance, 85% have some level of insurance. These levels are similar to the general population.
  
  
• At least 18% of insured artists are considered to be under-insured and another 12% are considered at-risk for losing their coverage.
  
  
• Nearly a third of artists skipped or delayed medical care in the last 12 months.
  
  
• Almost 20% responded that in the last 3 years they had taken a job outside of their artistic practice to obtain health insurance.

 Full Survey Report and Survey Data Tables

WAHIP Background and Support
The Washington Artists Health Insurance Project (WAHIP) is an effort to develop new strategies to improve access to health insurance for artists. WAHIP is working to expand access to health insurance for artists working in all disciplines, from painters and poets to rock musicians and choreographers, and all individuals who are dedicated to a profession in the arts. The work of WAHIP will provide leadership in developing models relevant to artists in other regions and for other populations with similar characteristics. During 2004 and 2005 WAHIP’s work focused on research and building knowledge for future action. WAHIP is a partnership project between Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC) (www.lincnet.net) and Artist Trust and is supported in part by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Nathan Cummings Foundation. Over 40 arts and cultural organizations in Washington State including the Washington State Arts Commission, 4Culture and the Seattle Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, and numerous health policy and insurance experts are supporting WAHIP’s efforts in various ways.

Please see previous WAHIP Progress Updates for an overview of trends shaping health insurance and the health coverage challenges faced by artists and other self-employed individuals.

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